The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a statement addressing concerns surrounding the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) role in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. According to the Ministry, JAMB remains the statutory body responsible for conducting entrance examinations and coordinating admissions into tertiary institutions.
The Ministry described JAMB’s role as “statutory and legally empowered” and explained that the new admission guidelines aim to expand access to higher education, granting institutions more autonomy in admissions.
The new guidelines include changes to admission requirements for various programs. Mathematics is no longer compulsory for Arts and Humanities programs but remains a requirement for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses. Institutions can now select qualified candidates directly for certain courses under JAMB’s supervision through direct admissions. Additionally, polytechnics and colleges of education can admit candidates with a minimum of four relevant credits, depending on the program.
The reforms are projected to enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually without compromising academic quality. The Ministry cautions against spreading unverified information, urging the public to rely on official communication channels for accurate information on admission policies and education-related matters.
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